SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 45 Min.
Released by River North Nashville Records in 1996, this album’s thirteen tracks are:
Title: Time:
| 1. | Intro | 0:35 |
| 2. | Could Have Been Mine | 3:58 |
| 3. | You’re Gonna Miss A Whole Lotta Love | 4:03 |
| 4. | Eleven Roses | 4:00 |
| 5. | Have We Forgotten What Love Is | 3:53 |
| 6. | This Purple Heart | 3:05 |
| 7. | State of Mind | 3:45 |
| 8. | Too Far This Time | 4:48 |
| 9. | Miracle | 3:34 |
| 10. | When You Took Your Love Away | 3:20 |
| 11. | Till I Get Over You | 3:09 |
| 12. | Call It Love | 3:23 |
| 13. | If You Have Love | 3:43 |
REVIEW:
Best known as feisty ‘Helen Chapel’ from NBC’s Wings TV sitcom, Crystal Bernard goes solo for this traditional country album. The endearing intro offers a snippet of Bernard singing as a four-year old. From there, her down-to-earth style carries Bernard through ordinary tunes that would likely have merited some radio play in the 1970’s or early 1980’s. In that sense, her thoughtful voice and subject matter seems reminiscent of Crystal Gayle.
Later in the album, Bernard adds a few faster-tempo tracks that demonstrate her artistic versatility, along with some co-songwriting credits. Otherwise, The Girl Next Door prefers calmly treading treads on slower or moderate-paced songs. Among these slower tunes, “Eleven Roses” and the poignant “This Purple Heart” stand out. “State of Mind” might be Bernard’s best upbeat track.
Even if this album isn’t memorable (i.e. notice how often “love” appears in the song titles), Bernard’s wholesome charm permeates The Girl Next Door. For her fans, this record makes a welcome treat. It’s also a solid choice for country music buffs who prefer a classy, old-school approach.
PACKAGING:
The tracks and/or running times appear in triplicate: on the back cover, in the booklet insert, and on the CD itself. Included in the booklet are song lyrics & musician credits; production credits; Bernard’s thank-you notes; and some low-key promotional photos of Bernard (including as a child).
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
